Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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At the outset, I would like to inform the Deputy that my Department is in ongoing contact with the family of the Irish citizen who lost his life in such tragic circumstances in Bolivia. We have liaised with them in relation to securing the release and repatriation of his remains to Ireland and we are continuing to liaise with them on all aspects of his case.

As the Deputy will be aware, after hearing of this person's death, I immediately instructed the Irish Embassy in Argentina, which is also accredited to Bolivia, to send a diplomatic officer there to represent the Government and also to look after the concerns of the family. He initially travelled to Santa Cruz, where the death of the Irish citizen occurred, and then to the Bolivian capital, La Paz.

While in Santa Cruz, the Irish Embassy representative had extensive contact with local officials, who were helpful and cooperative. As a result, it was possible to secure the timely release of the remains and for arrangements to be put in place for the body to be repatriated to Ireland for burial.

The Embassy representative also had meetings with the Bolivian Vice President, the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Vice Minister of the Interior, the Investigating Attorney in charge of the case, and the Investigating Officer from the Anti –Crime Special Force (FELCE), who is in charge of the police investigation. He expressed the Government's concern at reports on the circumstances surrounding the death and enquired from the Bolivian authorities as to the steps they were taking to discover the facts of the case.

I have spoken and written to the Acting Foreign Minister Quintana emphasising our interest in protecting the consular rights of our citizens abroad and the duty of the Irish Government to seek the facts in a case where one of our citizens was killed in a violent incident by the security forces in another country. I made clear that the Irish Government had no involvement in or sympathy with any attempt to destabilise Bolivia or in any attempt to undermine the democratically elected President of a friendly State. Mr Quintana indicted that the Bolivian Government will provide the Irish authorities with all reports on the events in Santa Cruz and will cooperate fully in establishing the truth.

I have noted comments attributed to President Morales about a possible international panel to assist with the investigation. I believe that such a panel would add value to the investigative process and the Irish Government would be willing to participate, should the Bolivian Government decide on this course of action. I can assure the Deputy that this Department through our Embassy in Buenos Aires and the Consular Section will remain in direct contact with the family of the person referred to by him and will provide all possible consular assistance to them.